Self-ligating bracket system

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket having a base contoured to engage a tooth surface, a body extending from the base, at least one first tie wing connected to the body, and a pair of second tie wings connected to the body and spaced from the first tie wing in an occlusal-gingival direction when the bracket is mounted on a tooth. An archwire slot extends between the first and second tie wings in a mesial-distal direction, wherein the first tie wing has an outwardly inclined rear surface proximate the archwire slot. A clip for use with the bracket has a retaining portion configured to fit beneath the first tie wing on the side thereof opposite the archwire slot, a locking edge portion remote from the retaining portion that fits into a recess beneath the second tie wings, a mid-portion that spans the retaining portion and the locking edge portion and covers at least a portion of the archwire slot in a manner effective to retain an archwire therein, and at least one arm that extends from the locking edge portion towards the retaining portion and is spaced from the mid-portion. During closing, the arm rides down against the inclined rear surface of the first tie wing and a portion of the clip bends resiliently, exerting a force that locks the locking edge portion of the clip in the recess beneath the second tie wings. During opening, the arm rides up against the inclined rear surface of the first tie wing as the locking edge portion of the clip is removed from the recess beneath the second tie wings. The clip is then moved to an open position to permit placement and removal of the archwire and held in that position.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 721,392, filed Sep. 28, 2005.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The invention relates to brackets used in orthodontic treatment, more specifically to an orthodontic bracket having a clip or latch for releasably retaining an archwire in an archwire slot of the bracket. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] During one type of common orthodontic treatment, a series of small brackets are fixed to a patient's anterior, cuspid and bicuspid teeth, and an archwire is inserted into a slot of each bracket. The archwire forms a track to guide movement of the teeth to orthodontically correct locations. End sections of the archwires are typically captured in tiny appliances known as buccal tubes that are fixed to the patient's molar teeth. Many types of orthodontic brackets have archwire slots that are open on one side for insertion of the archwire, and confined on remaining sides by the bracket tie wings or other structure. Bracket...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] An orthodontic bracket system according to the invention includes a bracket having a base contoured to engage a tooth surface, a body extending from the base, at least one first tie wing connected to the body, and a pair of second tie wings connected to the body and spaced from the first tie wing in an occlusal-gingival direction when the bracket is mounted on a tooth. An archwire slot extends between the first and second tie wings in a mesial-distal direction, wherein the first tie wing has an outwardly inclined rear surface proximate the archwire slot. A clip for use with the bracket has a retaining portion configured to fit beneath the first tie wing on the side thereof opposite the archwire slot, a locking edge portion remote from the retaining portion that fits into a recess beneath the second tie wings, a mid-portion that spans the reta...

Problems solved by technology

However, ligatures are time-consuming to install, decay over time and can become stained and unsightly.

Build-up of calculus over time can make it difficult to remove shutters or clips that slide into and out of place, such as of the detent style.

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